Idolomantis adults

[ellroy]

Hi Guys,

I posted earlier this week about one of my Idolos which shed to L9 but died, that one was definitely adult as it had fully formed wings.

Today another one shed to L9 but is still a nymph?! It has small bud wings and its abdomen still folds up over its thorax.

Are there different numbers of stadia for males and females?

I guess its possible that they were not the same stage to start with but I have had them since L3 and they have always been of similar size.

Yours thoughts would be appreciated,

Thanks

Alan

 

[Jesse]

Although I don't have experience with Idolomantis, I have had other species such as Miomantis paykulli that had both males and females mature at different stadia. The M. paykulli matured after anywhere from 6-8 molts. The one individual that only took 6 was a small female, most (both males and females) took 7 molts, and of the few that molted 8 times 2 out of the 3 were females. I have not personally observed such variation in any other mantids.

 

[Devils flower]

Males are adult when L9 and females when L10. This means females have one more molt to go and if kept at the same temperature the male will be dead before the female becomes adult.

I reckon your dead, fulgrown adult had big antennae? This means it is/was a male. Your other adult probably is a female.

Great pictures + L indications at terra-typica

Btw my couple will fopefully reach maturity within the next few days

 

[ellroy]

Thanks for the info guys.....it makes sense now.

Good luck with the final moult!